Seriously...what has happened to them. They were a solid, strong team who were outstanding all of last season with players who could cut you to pieces but they were very strong in midfield and strong in defence most of the time. I have just seen the goals they conceded v Arsenal and at least 5 were from their players mistakes. Was last season just a fluke or is there another reason for this slump? They remind me of Ipswich from 10 years ago... a great season (think they came 5th) followed by relegation. I think they've only won 1 match in the last 11 or so and that was against QPR. I really thought they were going to be a big threat to the top 6 again this season
They had a Boxing Day fixture at Old Trafford while Arsenal got to rest Arsenal have yet to prove themselves this season in a game not against relegation material, tired opponents, 10 men or where they are given penalties
what about the fact that they are only 3 points off relegation with only 1 win in their last 11 matches? Anyone can get battered once in a while ( we did them 5 nil last season)
Missing their two best players Tiote and Cabaye. Cisse hasn't produced last season's goalscoring form. Their defence overperformed last season. Krul, Coloccini and Simpson had great seasons- not reproduced this time either. They also miss Taylor. So too many factors have conspired against them. If all their players were fit and in form, they would still be top 6-8.
I thought the same about Newcastle,...and Aston Villa,of course.The other team is West Ham.Expected more from them. As I looked at the top of the second division (they call it the Championship,stupid isn't it!?) I wondered if Cardiff and the rest had already booked their return tickets?
what has happened to Newcastle? Alan Pardew, The guy is a clown that was lucky last season to oversee a team punching above their weight. Now when Newcastle need a manager to actually manage, they struggle and as usual Pardew fails to sustain or improve on his 1st season of management.
I really couldn't have put it better myself. And how good it is to see Pardew getting his long overdue come-uppance.
Newcastle have a strong first 11 that stayed fit during their spell last season, Cisse also had a spell where every speculative effort that left either of his boots flew in!. This season their squad depth has been horribly exposed. Its as simple as that for me. Cabaye and Ben Arfa are Newcastles entire source of quality build up play, both missing for weeks now, their main defence has also missed large chunks so far, so have ours as it goes, but our back up is better.
Some of the defending in that game yesterday was Keystone Cops stuff. The Goons were bad ( particularly Newcastle's second goal) but toon were just dire. I've seriously seen better defending in a park game!..
This ^^ well said Boss! the man is just incredibly overrated. To think some fans on here last summer were considering him as an option for being our new manager...
Pardew's done a very good job there, but Newcastle just aren't set up for European football at the moment and the number of games has cost them badly. They've picked up injuries in key areas and just don't have the quality and depth of squad to cope with it. The Geordies would do well to remember what happened with their manager when he got into the UEFA with West Ham. He had a poor start to the season, got smashed out of Europe by Palermo and struggled in the league, so they sacked him before Christmas. They've not been in a similar position since.
Why do we need to when we can still go above spurs with a home win against the spammers? You really need to hide your bitterness better
Terrible blow to get it back to 3-3 and then collapse like that. They are also getting very close to the relegation dog fight.
Their tiredness towards the end of the game was probably understandable, though. They were playing their 2nd tough away game in 4 days, whilst their opponents decided to have Boxing Day off, giving them a week long break after their robbery at Wigan.
Because they fancied a break and didn't want to pay extra for the policing of the game. Probably. They used the tube strike as an excuse, though it didn't seem to affect anyone else in London, bar a slight delay to the QPR kick-off.
